Musings and News
In this section I shall periodically postnews, thoughts and musings about my art and how I am developing ideas for projects.
Top 200 World Winner with The International Watercolour Masters 2024
Top 200 World Winner with The International Watercolour Masters 2024
26 November 2024
A fruitful morning spent in the studio working on my big project. It has generated this A4 oil Musing along the way.
11 November 2024
Archival, 50x60cm oil on canvas. It is so nice to see the sun is out again and lends itself to the positive. See Musings gallery for today.
8 October 2024
Archival, 80x60cm oil on linen canvas. Idly thinking and browsing, I stumbled across this portrait of a renowned pianist that I did some years ago and which formed part of my largest exhibition to date, Temporal Echoes at Gunby Hall and Gardens in Lincolnshire in 2019. Where has the time gone?! See Musings gallery.
4 October 2024
Archival, pencil and coloured pencil on 25x25cm. I have just got some new ocular equipment and thought I should test it out. I am pleased with this and have enjoyed creating this whilst listening to some inspiring music. See Musings gallery.
14 September 2024
See Musings gallery. Archival, linocut monoprint on 35x50cm paper. I am very pleased with how this monoprint has turned out. It has what I was looking for. This has been inspired by a performance of a new adaptation of Kafka’s final and seminal work, A Hunger Artist, Directed by Arthur Pita, with Edward Watson, Frank Moon Music and Meow Meow. I do not trace or use carbon paper as I like the movement generated when drawing free-hand.
12 August 2024
See gallery: Archival, A4, dry point etch, hand pressed. I wanted delicate, so that is what I got! I chose a mid black, etching ink which is more akin to pencil colour unlike the darker blacks which would be more like when I draw with ink. The paper is thinner than the one I use for linocut and monotypes as it needs to be able to get into the delicate burrs of dry point etch especially as I am printing by hand. As you can see I had a few attempts. I like them all as they are each different, but it is very obvious that the first impression is ‘the best’ in terms of clarity. The lines degrade each time I make an image.
16 July 2024
Where does time fly? Today’s musing in a very nice café- The North Sea Observatory, Chapel St Leonard’s. My version of plein air!
5 June 2024
I spent a few hours trying, unsuccessfully, to create marvellous lithographic prints; kitchen table method which involves tin foil, cola and vegetable oil. It does work, but my efforts were hampered by the fact that where I live the water is extremely hard, alkaline, which affects the efficacy of the cola. It was nice to feel the etching oil adhere to the lines I had created even though the attempt to re-etch meant that I had cola on my paper. The actual ink lines and image looked fantastic, but brown blobs on the paper ruined it. Anyway, my lack of experience is probably also a factor. Having said all that, today's post in the Musings gallery illustrates the kind of effect I was looking for. This is one of my tiny ink musings! The print would have involved a more elaborate composition.
12 May 2024
Archival, 35x35cm monotype. I do like the freedom of a monotype after a monoprint!
27 April 2024
I am not sure there time goes! I have been thinking about another monoprint for a while and made a few preparation drawings yesterday. Whilst searching in my old desk to see if I still had my protractor for a school emergency, I found a fountain pen which I bought a few decades ago. There was no protractor, but the challenge to see why I wasn’t using this fountain pen for drawing was tempting me. It took quite some time for the ink to draw down the nib. Then the truth of the matter was that the nib creates what I would call an unreliable line, see signature. However, I had fun playing with my preparation for my next monoprint!
2 March 2024
I did say that when the Lincoln Independent Magazine wrote that lovely article about me that it was time for some more monotypes. Here is one I did this morning.
Many know that the subject for a lot of my work in my multitude of media includes dancers and dancing generating movement even in stillness. This particular work captures the balance between the beauty in stillness and power and strength; there is a lightness and grace which belies the effort required.
Added the to this complexity is my method of creating a monotype print. Ink is applied directly on a plate, a perspex one in my case. I layer ink so I will not know from the image on the plate how it will actually come out as a print. That is the added thrill of creating work this way. This print is a 1/1 monotype and archival, 25x35cm. You are welcome to contact me directly if you are interested in any of my work.
21 February 2024
Another day, another watercolour, wet-in-wet with no pre-drawing. Many know that I have always been a fan of free-drawing as it generates an internal movement a work, something I particularly use in my monoprints and monotypes. This is archival as always, 23x31cm.
11 February 2024
Sometimes you just have to let the medium do its thing. It is very easy to fall into being too careful with watercolours. They are wonderful and it is exciting to just see what they can do!
1 February 2024
I am delighted that the Lincoln Independent Magazine has written an article about me in their February 2024 edition. I am on page 23! I have taken a photo of the computer screen and posted it in the Musings Gallery or you can have a closer look at the whole publication using the link below.
Link: https://www.lincolnindependent.co.uk/site/index.php/february-2024
22 January 2024
Today's bit of frivolity in my musings book. Coloured pencils.
8 January 2024
Today’s musing. I hopefully start another oil this week.
26 December 2023
Time flies when you are having fun! This is what is on the easel at the moment, a small one for me, 30x40cm oil on canvas, started this morning. There is nothing better than being in the studio working on my favourite subject, ballet dancers, and listening to music performed by musicians of excellence, The Gesualdo Six.
I am hoping to develop new ideas and projects in the new year!
12 September 2023
I have an update on the art book ‘What Inspires Art?’ which was produced as a result of the Usher Open Art exhibition 2022. As you may remember it comprises stories and images of works by a hundred and ten Lincolnshire-based artists, including me, who discuss the inspiration behind their work during lockdown. There is a wide variety of work, it is inspiring, and a valuable resource.
It is now available on Amazon: ‘What Inspires Art?’, Kevin Byron, editor. Search using ‘what inspires art kevin byron’.
The profits from the sale of the book will go to the Usher Gallery Trust, Lincoln, Lincolnshire to fund another open art exhibition.
7 September 2023
I am so delighted about being Top 200 IWM World Winner with my watercolour, In Contemplation, see Musings gallery. This will be screened at the International Watercolour Masters 2024 at Lilleshall Hall, Telford, TF10 9AT, England, UK May 15-24, 2024.
5 August2023
On this rainy Saturday I found inspiration in sculpture for today’s musing, accompanied by music by William Byrd, sung by The Gesualdo Six.
22 July 2023
It is interesting how references and images spark imagination. My latest musing has given me two oil paintings and a monoprint project lined up! I may not be a 'fast' artist, but I work 'smart', hahaha!
19 April 2023
I was thinking about drawing this image in ink (see Ink Gallery) while I was off doing other things last week. Artists never stop working! Archival, ink, 30x41cm paper.
7 April 2023
I thought it was time to challenge myself out of the pencil with the ability to rub out work, so out came the ink! This is my Bank Holiday offering. Both drawings are on 41x30cm approx.
2 March 2023
It is interesting to compare the ink drawing I posted yesterday to this one. I love ink because the mark you make remains as you cannot remove it. I have just started my journey using ink with brushes rather than using ink pens. I have developed a freedom with the pens. With this one of Alessandra Ferri, an exceptional ballerina who should inspire us all, I decided to use some more of my larger Chinese brushes to see what would happen! The inks are amazing and the brushes load so much ink it is gorgeous. The photograph is taken to let you see the lush gorgeousness …. Archival as always and 43x61cm. I went for it. I was a little more careful yesterday. See gallery Ink 28 February 2023. I may revisit the beautiful pas de deux of yesterday’s post and allow more freedom perhaps, although I am not unhappy with it as it is. It is the largest I have done so far ....
17 February 2023
Well, here is a musing in my Musings book, picture posted in the Musings gallery. It is a dull day so photo is as it is! It was a nice surprise to find my letter in The Artists & Illustrators Magazine this morning talking about coloured pencils. I shall be doing more drawings with my special coloured pencils in due course. However, at the moment I am into oils, which take time to dry, hence this morning's musing.
7 January 2023
Image is in the Musings gallery: I have been meaning to use this reference for quite some time. It is a scene from a ballet, and I am ashamed to say I have forgotten which, but it is 'vintage'! It could be an opera. I know it is from The Royal Opera House .... During the week we acquired a calligraphy pen with four different nibs for the whole family to use. I have been toying with the idea of dip pens so I thought I would see how it felt. I have to say that the nib is beautiful to use and I think there may be potential for more work using ink and dip pens of all shapes and sizes. I have not tried the square nibs yet.
31 December 2022
I was given a sketch book which I have decided is for random musings and work which is not intended for archival work or exhibition; just fun and experimenting.
12 December 2022
Well, Social Media is great when it works. My Instagram account broke and gave me partial access to the content so I have had to set up a new one. All that work developing a presence online gone in a jiffy! However, art is everlasting so I am not overly worried about it. As a quote on T-shirt says 'Don't stress about it'!
A fruitful morning spent in the studio working on my big project. It has generated this A4 oil Musing along the way.
11 November 2024
Archival, 50x60cm oil on canvas. It is so nice to see the sun is out again and lends itself to the positive. See Musings gallery for today.
8 October 2024
Archival, 80x60cm oil on linen canvas. Idly thinking and browsing, I stumbled across this portrait of a renowned pianist that I did some years ago and which formed part of my largest exhibition to date, Temporal Echoes at Gunby Hall and Gardens in Lincolnshire in 2019. Where has the time gone?! See Musings gallery.
4 October 2024
Archival, pencil and coloured pencil on 25x25cm. I have just got some new ocular equipment and thought I should test it out. I am pleased with this and have enjoyed creating this whilst listening to some inspiring music. See Musings gallery.
14 September 2024
See Musings gallery. Archival, linocut monoprint on 35x50cm paper. I am very pleased with how this monoprint has turned out. It has what I was looking for. This has been inspired by a performance of a new adaptation of Kafka’s final and seminal work, A Hunger Artist, Directed by Arthur Pita, with Edward Watson, Frank Moon Music and Meow Meow. I do not trace or use carbon paper as I like the movement generated when drawing free-hand.
12 August 2024
See gallery: Archival, A4, dry point etch, hand pressed. I wanted delicate, so that is what I got! I chose a mid black, etching ink which is more akin to pencil colour unlike the darker blacks which would be more like when I draw with ink. The paper is thinner than the one I use for linocut and monotypes as it needs to be able to get into the delicate burrs of dry point etch especially as I am printing by hand. As you can see I had a few attempts. I like them all as they are each different, but it is very obvious that the first impression is ‘the best’ in terms of clarity. The lines degrade each time I make an image.
16 July 2024
Where does time fly? Today’s musing in a very nice café- The North Sea Observatory, Chapel St Leonard’s. My version of plein air!
5 June 2024
I spent a few hours trying, unsuccessfully, to create marvellous lithographic prints; kitchen table method which involves tin foil, cola and vegetable oil. It does work, but my efforts were hampered by the fact that where I live the water is extremely hard, alkaline, which affects the efficacy of the cola. It was nice to feel the etching oil adhere to the lines I had created even though the attempt to re-etch meant that I had cola on my paper. The actual ink lines and image looked fantastic, but brown blobs on the paper ruined it. Anyway, my lack of experience is probably also a factor. Having said all that, today's post in the Musings gallery illustrates the kind of effect I was looking for. This is one of my tiny ink musings! The print would have involved a more elaborate composition.
12 May 2024
Archival, 35x35cm monotype. I do like the freedom of a monotype after a monoprint!
27 April 2024
I am not sure there time goes! I have been thinking about another monoprint for a while and made a few preparation drawings yesterday. Whilst searching in my old desk to see if I still had my protractor for a school emergency, I found a fountain pen which I bought a few decades ago. There was no protractor, but the challenge to see why I wasn’t using this fountain pen for drawing was tempting me. It took quite some time for the ink to draw down the nib. Then the truth of the matter was that the nib creates what I would call an unreliable line, see signature. However, I had fun playing with my preparation for my next monoprint!
2 March 2024
I did say that when the Lincoln Independent Magazine wrote that lovely article about me that it was time for some more monotypes. Here is one I did this morning.
Many know that the subject for a lot of my work in my multitude of media includes dancers and dancing generating movement even in stillness. This particular work captures the balance between the beauty in stillness and power and strength; there is a lightness and grace which belies the effort required.
Added the to this complexity is my method of creating a monotype print. Ink is applied directly on a plate, a perspex one in my case. I layer ink so I will not know from the image on the plate how it will actually come out as a print. That is the added thrill of creating work this way. This print is a 1/1 monotype and archival, 25x35cm. You are welcome to contact me directly if you are interested in any of my work.
21 February 2024
Another day, another watercolour, wet-in-wet with no pre-drawing. Many know that I have always been a fan of free-drawing as it generates an internal movement a work, something I particularly use in my monoprints and monotypes. This is archival as always, 23x31cm.
11 February 2024
Sometimes you just have to let the medium do its thing. It is very easy to fall into being too careful with watercolours. They are wonderful and it is exciting to just see what they can do!
1 February 2024
I am delighted that the Lincoln Independent Magazine has written an article about me in their February 2024 edition. I am on page 23! I have taken a photo of the computer screen and posted it in the Musings Gallery or you can have a closer look at the whole publication using the link below.
Link: https://www.lincolnindependent.co.uk/site/index.php/february-2024
22 January 2024
Today's bit of frivolity in my musings book. Coloured pencils.
8 January 2024
Today’s musing. I hopefully start another oil this week.
26 December 2023
Time flies when you are having fun! This is what is on the easel at the moment, a small one for me, 30x40cm oil on canvas, started this morning. There is nothing better than being in the studio working on my favourite subject, ballet dancers, and listening to music performed by musicians of excellence, The Gesualdo Six.
I am hoping to develop new ideas and projects in the new year!
12 September 2023
I have an update on the art book ‘What Inspires Art?’ which was produced as a result of the Usher Open Art exhibition 2022. As you may remember it comprises stories and images of works by a hundred and ten Lincolnshire-based artists, including me, who discuss the inspiration behind their work during lockdown. There is a wide variety of work, it is inspiring, and a valuable resource.
It is now available on Amazon: ‘What Inspires Art?’, Kevin Byron, editor. Search using ‘what inspires art kevin byron’.
The profits from the sale of the book will go to the Usher Gallery Trust, Lincoln, Lincolnshire to fund another open art exhibition.
7 September 2023
I am so delighted about being Top 200 IWM World Winner with my watercolour, In Contemplation, see Musings gallery. This will be screened at the International Watercolour Masters 2024 at Lilleshall Hall, Telford, TF10 9AT, England, UK May 15-24, 2024.
5 August2023
On this rainy Saturday I found inspiration in sculpture for today’s musing, accompanied by music by William Byrd, sung by The Gesualdo Six.
22 July 2023
It is interesting how references and images spark imagination. My latest musing has given me two oil paintings and a monoprint project lined up! I may not be a 'fast' artist, but I work 'smart', hahaha!
19 April 2023
I was thinking about drawing this image in ink (see Ink Gallery) while I was off doing other things last week. Artists never stop working! Archival, ink, 30x41cm paper.
7 April 2023
I thought it was time to challenge myself out of the pencil with the ability to rub out work, so out came the ink! This is my Bank Holiday offering. Both drawings are on 41x30cm approx.
2 March 2023
It is interesting to compare the ink drawing I posted yesterday to this one. I love ink because the mark you make remains as you cannot remove it. I have just started my journey using ink with brushes rather than using ink pens. I have developed a freedom with the pens. With this one of Alessandra Ferri, an exceptional ballerina who should inspire us all, I decided to use some more of my larger Chinese brushes to see what would happen! The inks are amazing and the brushes load so much ink it is gorgeous. The photograph is taken to let you see the lush gorgeousness …. Archival as always and 43x61cm. I went for it. I was a little more careful yesterday. See gallery Ink 28 February 2023. I may revisit the beautiful pas de deux of yesterday’s post and allow more freedom perhaps, although I am not unhappy with it as it is. It is the largest I have done so far ....
17 February 2023
Well, here is a musing in my Musings book, picture posted in the Musings gallery. It is a dull day so photo is as it is! It was a nice surprise to find my letter in The Artists & Illustrators Magazine this morning talking about coloured pencils. I shall be doing more drawings with my special coloured pencils in due course. However, at the moment I am into oils, which take time to dry, hence this morning's musing.
7 January 2023
Image is in the Musings gallery: I have been meaning to use this reference for quite some time. It is a scene from a ballet, and I am ashamed to say I have forgotten which, but it is 'vintage'! It could be an opera. I know it is from The Royal Opera House .... During the week we acquired a calligraphy pen with four different nibs for the whole family to use. I have been toying with the idea of dip pens so I thought I would see how it felt. I have to say that the nib is beautiful to use and I think there may be potential for more work using ink and dip pens of all shapes and sizes. I have not tried the square nibs yet.
31 December 2022
I was given a sketch book which I have decided is for random musings and work which is not intended for archival work or exhibition; just fun and experimenting.
12 December 2022
Well, Social Media is great when it works. My Instagram account broke and gave me partial access to the content so I have had to set up a new one. All that work developing a presence online gone in a jiffy! However, art is everlasting so I am not overly worried about it. As a quote on T-shirt says 'Don't stress about it'!
